Welcome!  We are pleased you are interested in joining Bread & Roses Chorus!  We want you to have some additional information about our chorus.  If you haven’t already, check out our website: breadandroseschorus.org, and subscribe on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!

Our Mission Statement

The members of Bread & Roses Chorus are devoted to developing and enjoying our musical skills, sharing them with each other and the community, and providing a community of women who deliver messages of peace and justice, protection of our fragile environment, diversity, women’s empowerment and acceptance for all.

Participation Requirements

We invite any woman who enjoys singing to join us.  We do expect that you are able to, at the very least, match a pitch.  Our pieces are in 3-or 4-part harmony (SSAA) and although we usually sing in sections, you may be expected to sing your part next to someone who is singing a different part. Our members have varying degrees of musical backgrounds and expertise. We encourage this diversity and will assist you as much as possible in your personal musical growth.  ANY musical experience you have will be helpful.  Ability to sight read/sight sing music is NOT required and we do not hold auditions.

A copy of our “Commitment and Responsibilities Covenant” is included with your handouts.  All members are expected to agree with our mission statement and subscribe to the covenant.

Rehearsal Details

We rehearse on Sunday evenings from 5:45 to 8:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 900 Normal Rd in DeKalb.  Please be in your seat ready to sing at 5:45. If you wish to socialize, use the restroom, etc. please come a few minutes early. There is a short break approximately halfway through the rehearsal for stretching, announcements, and business matters. If you are unable to attend a rehearsal please indicate that on the attendance sheet. *See Covenant for more detailed, important expectations!

We generally rehearse during school semesters with breaks in between.  Specific starting and ending dates are determined at the Annual Meeting in June of that year.  Our tech (one week out) and dress (night before) rehearsals are mandatory to ensure performance readiness. There may be additional activities – such as sectionals, ensemble rehearsals or committee meetings - which are scheduled as needed.

Members are expected to attend rehearsals regularly, missing no more than three, so as to build a cohesive singing unit. *Again, see Covenant.

You are encouraged to bring water with you in order to stay hydrated.

Dues

Dues are currently $50 per semester, paid at the start of each semester.  Checks should be made payable to Bread & Roses Chorus.  Inability to pay dues should not keep anyone from joining our chorus.  If this is an issue, speak with our Treasurer, Linda Matuszewski, to handle the situation confidentially.

Music

Once you have decided to become a member of Bread & Roses Chorus, we will lend you copies of music, which you are responsible for during the semester. We can then assign you to a section, and get to know you.  Members should rehearse with a pencil (and eraser!) in hand (no pen or highlighters!) and are encouraged to mark their music as needed.  You will also need a folder or binder to hold your music.

Performances

We generally have a full-length performance at the end of each semester.  A beneficiary is voted upon and all proceeds (after expenses) from each concert are donated to them. We also sing some shorter performances for area organizations on an occasional basis.

All members who have regularly attended rehearsals and practiced diligently participate in performances.  If you are not completely comfortable with any given piece you may ask to sit out for that number.  Members are strongly encouraged to STUDY, PRACTICE, and LEARN the music outside of rehearsals. Audio files are emailed to assist in learning the notes, and practice playlists are linked on YouTube, but only attendance at rehearsals will make you performance - ready.

Members provide their own black performance binder to hold their music.  Performance attire may vary; we have recently been wearing all black.

Governance and Structure

Bread & Roses Chorus operates with a consensus style of governance where everyone has a chance to voice their opinion and have a say in the final decisions. We are a nonprofit and have a Board of Directors overseeing chorus operations. Every member is expected to participate in general publicity and concert set-up or clean-up.  Individual Section Leaders assist in monitoring attendance and helping with any performance-readiness issues.

We hold our Annual Meeting in June to review the previous year and plan for the next year.  Everyone is expected to attend this meeting and to sign up for at least one of the working committees: Concert, Membership, Music, Public Relations.

Guest Singers

We encourage our members to bring others to visit and sing with us!  We have guest binders with a full set of music for them to use. Please let a Music Organization Team member know if someone will be joining us that night so we can be prepared.

If your guest is a prospective new member, we ask that you also let the Membership Committee know, so we can provide them with our new member handouts.  

*Note, you are encouraged to bring prospective new members up through the first three rehearsals, after that, they are welcome to visit and sing with us, but will need to meet with our Director to determine if they are able to join past that third rehearsal.